The paths in the courtyard are very slippery when they've gotten a little wet because of green moss that has grown on them. Coming out of the main house in the morning after waking up means I either have to remember to try and not slip if I'm wearing shoes, or I get my socks terribly dirty. Thursday morning held a bit of the same, and something I should come to expect in Europe – strong black coffee with too much sugar, bread of some sort with maybe a little butter and jam, and a shower. Well, perhaps I won't expect the shower so often, especially after I've started the Camino. A large crate containing the rest of Rebekah and Paddy's worldly possessions arrived from the US. The salon was filled with boxes and the like. Unfortunately some things were broken in the move, including Rebekah's wooden coat tree.
After this we moved some things around the house – and old oven, some rebar, etc. - that Rebekah wanted moved to the back so some gypsy man can come and take them away. We sat around deciding what to do about lunch and dinner for the evening, and then when we had a vague idea of what we needed to get we drove into Sahagun to get groceries and some things from the hardware store. Sebastien said he was able to repair the broken coat tree so we needed nails, wood glue, and some varnish. Looking for somewhere to park we saw Rebekah's friend James sitting in his car. He and his girlfriend Marianne were back in town. In town we hit up the hardware store, then on the way to the supermarket we decided that I would make ratatouille for everyone, as something that was hearty and filling and at the same time healthy and vegetarian – Daniel is a veggie. We stopped at a small grocery and got some of the vegetables necessary and then went to a larger store to get other things. The supermarket here is small but filled with all kinds of products. Everyone in this country is so small.
We got back home to Moratinos and James, Marianne, and their two children Poppie and Fin, came over. They own a property in town that Rebekah and Paddy jokingly refer to as The Alamo, due to it's current condition – walls falling down, rubble scattered about. James offered to cook everyone dinner, and so I decided to make my ratatouille for lunch. It ended up being a little different than I've normally made it, as the tomatoes weren't incredibly “juice-ful” and I didn't know there were canned tomatoes in The Dispenser (what Rebekah and everyone call the little room across from the kitchen where many things end up being stored... it's like a pantry). So I ended up (and I know my grandfather will laugh at this) using a local beer to stew the vegetables in. It turned out rather nice and everyone seemed to enjoy it.
Right before lunch, another pilgrim showed up, Berndt from Germany. He used to work for a printing company but then they went bankrupt and he was without a job. He's an interesting man, and seems to know quite a bit about a lot of things. He said he'd stopped by Moratinos because he had spoken with James, and knowing a bit about electrical work he thought he could be of help over at The Alamo. So he stayed for lunch, and we got to know him a little better. He also came with a ukulele which we got Daniel and Sebastien to play later that evening.
So James, Marianne and the children and their dog Africa came over later in the day, hauling sacks of groceries into the kitchen. James and Marianne are both really great people, and I love listening to them talk. Also, they've got really cute kids. James is very lively and entertaining while Marianne is a bit quieter but really intelligent and outgoing. We kept feeding Poppie, who is about two, peanuts and she ended up mashing them all up in her mouth and then I think much of the mess ended up on Marianne.
James prepared a huge fantastic Indian dinner for all of us, consisting of stewed lamb, roasted chicken, curried cauliflower, green lentils, and homemade naan – a type of flat bread. It was utterly delicious, and we all ate our fill with good red wine from Sahagun. The kitchen table was hardly large enough to seat everyone – nine of us – along with holding all the food, so some sat around it and others sat on the floor and near the fireplace. It was a special day for Daniel, because along his spiritual journey on the Camino, this day marked the end of the first of three phases and the beginning of the second. In celebration he actually ate meat during dinner and then afterwards smoked a cigar. After dinner Daniel and Sebastien played songs on the uke, which sounded nice, but slightly comedic coming from the distinct sounding instrument.
Eventually we all made our ways to bed, and I must say I dozed quite contentedly straight through the night.
1 comment:
Well said.
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